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Regional Roundup
Nov. 4, 2026

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Changes to Edmonton region in new electoral boundary maps

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A number of tweaks have been made to proposed electoral boundaries in the Edmonton region. The new riding boundary maps were tabled in the legislature on Nov. 2 after an advisory panel revised the previous work of the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission. The commission had proposed removing two rural seats, including Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland, which have now been restored, albeit with a slightly different name. Lac Ste. Anne's reintroduction to the map led to cascading changes across the ridings west of Edmonton. Spruce Grove-Stony Plain has been split up, with Stony Plain moved into the Lac Ste. Anne riding, and Spruce Grove and the areas around it becoming a riding on their own. To the north, Morinville-Sturgeon has been renamed from St. Albert-Sturgeon because it includes the entire town of Morinville and nearly all of Sturgeon County, with only a part of St. Albert.

South of Edmonton, changes have been made to align communities of interest, according to the report. The previous commission had grouped Stony Plain and Drayton Valley together, while admitting the relationship between the two municipalities was not obvious. This version restores the Drayton Valley-Devon riding. Residents of Leduc and Beaumont had asked for their cities to be grouped together in a riding after previous versions of the map split Beaumont in two. Leduc-Beaumont is now significantly above the average population. To help address this, the panel moved some areas in and around Leduc and Beaumont into a new south Edmonton riding called Edmonton-Nisku. The panel said this riding "clearly unites communities of interest in southeast Edmonton." Many south Edmonton ridings are currently below the population threshold, but they're expected to grow in the coming years. Postmedia's Matthew Black built an interactive map so you can compare the current 87 seats, the commission's proposed 89 seats, and the panel's 91-seat revision.

So far, the changes to the electoral boundaries in the Edmonton region have not been as controversial as those in Calgary and Lethbridge, where several urban ridings have been combined with rural ones. The Alberta NDP calls it gerrymandering and has threatened to challenge the map in court, which Premier Danielle Smith says she'll fight. The proposed maps are expected to be debated in the legislature this week, and the UCP government wants the new map in place before the next election, expected on Oct. 18, 2027, notwithstanding Alberta Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure's plea for more time.

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Data centres

Economic development

Municipalities

  • Your turn, Taproot's weekly list of public engagement opportunities, includes a roundup of municipal budget discussions in the region.
  • The St. Albert Public Library requested $5.2 million in municipal operating funding for 2027, a 3.3% increase. The request includes $40,000 to implement Bill 28's new restrictions on access to some library materials. Arts and Heritage St. Albert requested $2.2 million in municipal funding for 2027, an 8% increase. The organization is forming a task force to seek government grants and private funding for a new museum at its heritage sites.
  • Stony Plain proposed its 2027-2029 corporate plan, which includes a 2027 budget that would require a 2.91% property tax increase. The town will hold public deliberations on the plan on Nov. 4.
  • Alberta has delayed approval of an agreement between St. Albert and the federal government for $28.1 million in principle for the northeast servicing project until November. City administrator Bill Fletcher said no specific approval date or reason for the delay had been provided. He said the delay could postpone the planned spring 2027 construction start.
  • The City of Fort Saskatchewan will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to its land-use bylaw on Nov. 10. Administration recommended reducing the maximum lot size for data centres from eight to four hectares while it reviews their impacts and opportunities.
  • Enoch Cree Nation has begun construction on 166 affordable single-family homes for its members, aiming to address a housing waiting list of about 350 families. The development west of Edmonton is backed by a $30-million loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, its largest investment in an Indigenous housing project to date. Construction of 110 homes is expected to be completed by summer, with another 50 lots scheduled for completion in early 2028.
  • Leduc County council declared a municipal state of agricultural disaster after excessive rainfall damaged crops. It is the 13th Alberta municipality to do so this year. Administration reported that oversaturated soil wiped out a quarter of annually cropped acres. The declaration does not automatically unlock additional provincial or federal funding.
  • The City of Fort Saskatchewan is accepting submissions for its Art in Public Places Program until Jan. 11.
  • Spruce Grove is recruiting members for its Council Remuneration Review Advisory Committee. The committee will review pay for the mayor and councillors over about eight weeks in late winter and early spring 2027.
  • The City of Spruce Grove's Recreation and Culture team and Parks team were recognized with the A.V. Pettigrew Award from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. "From the development of Heavy Metal Place and re-imagined Central Park to enhancements at Heritage Grove Park, the Agrena, and Columbus Park, these investments reflect council's vision of building a connected, welcoming, and accessible community," the city said.
  • Spruce Grove hosted its first citizenship ceremony at Heavy Metal Place's Black Box Theatre, where 69 people became Canadian citizens.
  • Beaumont replaced heating equipment at city hall and its parks shop with more than $19,000 in provincial grant support. The city expects the upgrades to avoid about 163 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the equipment's lifespan.

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